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Monday, December 5, 2011

Single-eyed.

Cyclops SharkPhotograph courtesy Marcela Bejarano-Álvarez
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This extremely rare cyclops shark, found in Mexico, was confirmed by scientists in October.

The 22-inch-long (56-centimeter-long) fetus has a single, functioning eye at the front of its head. The eye is a hallmark of a congenital condition called cyclopia, which occurs in several animal species, including humans.

Scientists have documented cyclops-shark embryos a few times before, saidJim Gelsleichter, a shark biologist at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. The fact that none have been caught outside the womb suggests cyclops sharks don't survive long in the wild.